I knew that some of the people I'm writing about are the people I will eventually work with. See, one way of making this work was that I use the newspaper's name to pole-vault into someone's office and get things going. The other way was that I remain brutally honest with my writing. I was almost certain that a lot of people will not agree with my reviews. But I was sure that a producer will see that I know cinema, I call a spade a spade and that perhaps will reflect in my cinema too.
Were producers happy to meet you despite the scathing reviews?
Most of them were. The smart ones don't hold grudges. Like I had panned Shah Rukh Khan's films but he's too smart a guy to hold a grudge. And sure enough, the best production house decided to work with me when I had panned four films of theirs in the past.
How was your first meeting with Bangistan producers, Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani?
I'd sent them the script, they liked it and called me for a meeting. They recognised me as the critic. Then Ritesh told me he doesn't read any review of his productions ever. It's not that he didn't care for them in a negative way. He just thinks we're all doing our jobs, I may not like what you do and vice versa. We had 3-4 meetings and not once did they bring up my reviews of their films.
The film industry feels that a critic uses his power as a tool for personal attacks?
I'd never care to read such critics who get personal and petty. I've never done that as a reviewer. It's not good criticism; it shows lack of cinema knowledge. These days, with the power of 140 characters, everyone seems to have become a critic - knowledge or no knowledge of cinema. And such writing is seldom taken seriously.
Most industry stalwarts say that they don't take critics seriously...
I don't think there is any rivalry there but no one wants to be told all the time about how they need to learn their craft and how bad their product is. Actors are as human as us.
Now that you have been through the entire process of filmmaking, does it change your perspective on the films you once panned?
No chance! I had a good idea of filmmaking before writing about the movies. I actively spoke about the various aspects of filmmaking in my reviews. That was my USP. My father was a filmmaker - Manjul Sinha. He was the man who gave Indian television its first phase with shows like Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi. So filmmaking was a part of me.
What was the kind of cinema that influenced you?
I was never into films until I went to college. I hated what my father used to do, in terms of his lifestyle. My friends in school had fathers who went to office, and came home in the evening. My father was home for two months and then gone for days. I went to the USA to pursue computer science but had to drop it because I was terrible at maths. I tried combinations of numerous subjects before zeroing in on films. When I had to make a film for a project, I realised it all came naturally to me. The film that did it for me was Man Bites Dog - an indie, Romanian, black-and-white film. After that, I saw about four films a day.
Have you ever had a situation where you reviewed someone's film and written something you shouldn't have? What if that person bumps into you today?
There was just one occasion where I genuinely felt I went wrong with the review. Much after I moved on from the job, I called that person, we spoke it out and now we're fine with each other.
But a critic's job is not all that simple these days. Ratings are changed against his wish with pressures from advertisers and interest groups. Don't you think?
It has never happened with me but a critic should never be asked to change his ratings, come what may.
What would you do if you were the reviewer?
I don't know what I'd do. It's too hypothetical.
Bangistan is nearly over. Khel is underway. What next?
It will be with Excel Entertainment for sure. I have 5 scripts in various genres. I'll make all of them eventually. Akira Kurosawa said that when you meet someone, always have more than one idea ready.
Are you ready to face the reviews for Bangistan?
I'm nervous about its box-office but eager for the reviews.